Article cleaning and drying machine



Feb. 15, 1955 s. JfsMrrH v 2,702,042

ARTICLE CLEANING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 194e 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. l5, 1955 s. J. sMlTH ARTICLE CLEANING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2s, 194e 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb, 15, 1955 s. J. SMITH ARTICLE CLEANING AND DRYING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 25. 1948 looiloil Feb. l5, 1955 s. J. sMlTH 2,702,042

ARTICLE CLEANING AND DRYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ARTICLE CLEANmG AND nRYmG MACHINE Sigmund J. Smith, Hagerstown, Md. i Application January 23, 194s, serial N0. 4,037

17 Claims. (cl. 134-56) This invention relates to an automatic instrument cleaning and drying machine. The invention, while being suitable for cleaning various forms of articles, is particularly adapted for the cleaning of delicate instruments such as watches, by subjecting same to successive washing, rinsing and drying operations while supported in a stationary position.

The practice heretofore in general use for the cleaning of watches, for instance, involved various forms of manual as well as automatic machines employing associated apparatus, all of which required the handling and rehandling of a watch from one station in the cleaning process to another, and a still further movement of the watch at each station, usually a spinning movement. In such machines of the prior art, with which applicant is familiar, the watch must be placed within a suspended basket or like supported perforated container after which the basket is submerged in a tank ot' cleaning or other solution. At such times the basket is subjected to vigorous movements relative to the tank or other containers elnployed at the various stations to effect the desired cleaning, rinsing or drying operation thereon.

i `Whilea watch may be well cleaned and dried in the devices of the prior art just discussed, the process is slow and damage is often inicted upon the delicate watch works, making such devices time-consuming as Well as expensive to operate and maintain.

A primary object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide an instrument cleaning and drying apparatus embodying a single treating chamber for stationary support of one or a plurality of instruments therein, and associated washing solution and rinsing solution supporting tanks mounted for movement relative to the chamber for discharging their` contents in succession` into the treating chamber with subsequent draining of the respective solutions therefrom and into the proper tanks, together with propeller means in the treating chamber for agitating the respective fluids therein and also for drying the instruments after draining of the rinsing solution from the chamber. v

Another object of the invention is the provision of such an apparatus including a treating chamber and relatively -movable cleaning solution and rinsing' solution tanks having clockwork controlled mechanism to move the tanks to and from discharging and receiving positions and to control the timed relation of the flow of the solutions to and from the treating chamber and said tanks according to predetermined set conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a watch cleaning machine with a washing solution receiving chamber having a perforated Watch supporting tray therein for submersion of the watches in the solution, and a motor driven propeller also disposed within the chamber and wherein a uid friction transmission is disposed between the motor and propeller, wherebyuthe propeller has a solution churnlng and propelling move- Iment substantially slower than that of the motor when Athe propeller is Vsubmerged in the uid, and a substantially increased rate of movement upon draining of the solution from the chamber for serving as a fan to dry the 'watches supported on the tray.

A still further object of the invention is the provlslon of a watch cleaning machine wherein watches are stationarily supported while being successively subJected to the action of washing and rinsing solutions, and wherein the machine includes separate washing and rlnsmg solution supporting tanks for successive draining of the 2,702,042 Patented Feb. 15,

ported on a tray therein tosuccessive washing, rinsingA and drying operations and whereinA separate washing and rinsing solutions are supported, dispersed and maintained for use in successive cleaning operations. f y

A still further object of the inventionis the provision of a watch cleaning machine which is relatively simple in construction, durable, eiicient in operation and which is capable of manufacture and maintenance at relatively low cost. t e Other objectsv and advantages of the invention 'will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. l is an end elevational view of the improved machine in accordance with a preferred structural embodiment thereof, certain of the parts being shown in another operative position in dotted lines; l-ig. 2 1s a vertical sectional view in the planes of the broken line 2-2, on Fig. l; l l j Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View in the plane of line 3-5 on Fig. 4; 1 l Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in big. 2 whlch controls the flow of washing and rinsing solutlons to and from theftreating chamber, the view being partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section;

171g. 5 1s an axial vertical sectional view of a uid frictilclrn transmission t'or the propeller embodied in the mac lne; i Fig. 6 is a plan View of one of the two cooperating uid {xricticgn dlscs embodied in the transmission shov'vn in 1g. rigs. 7 to l2 inclusive are electrical 'circuit diagrams disclosing various switch arrangements in ,thesuccess'ive phases of a cleaning operation by the machine; and f Figs. 13 to 18 inclusive are diagrammatic views showing me flow of washing and rinsing liuid to and from the treating chamber in the successive phases of a cleaning operauon.

liererring now in detail `to the drawings, the machine includes a washing tank or chamber 10 which is preferably rectangular in plan and comprises opposed side` walls 11 and 12 and other opposed slde walls 13 and 14'disposed at right angles to the first Walls.` This chamber further includes a bottom Wall 15. The top of the chamber is open and the side walls terminate at the top of the tank in out-turned flanges 16. The chamber 10 is suitably supported by uprlghts 17 which engage the corners of the chamber adjacent its bottom wall'15 and the uprights at their lower ends rest on a base 18 provided with leveling feet 19.

While the space between chamber 10 and base 18 is shown open, suitable cover plates may be provided 'to conceal and protect certain structures within said space which are later referred to. The chamber 10 is adapted to successivelyV contain washing and rinsing solutions which are alternately admitted thereto and drained therefrom by means which will be later described. It is Aimportant that the articles to be cleaned and dried are stationarily supported within the chamber for allV operations thereon. For this purpose a removable, four-sided liner 20 is provided which includes an out-turnedttop flange 21 removably seated on the top iiang'es 16 of the chamber 10. This liner 20 suitably supports a wire mesh tray 22 in which the articles to be washed are deposited.' The tray may be partitioned or otherwise shaped or con-y structed to provide a plurality of pockets or tray cells, as shown particularly at 22 in Fig. 2. A dished cover 23 supported at its margin on the liner flange 21 is pro'- vided with a plurality of ventilation louvres 24 which overlie the tray 22. The cover which is preferably hinged is further provided with a lifting handle 2S.

The washing and rinsing solutions should ll the 4 chamber 10 tothe level represented by Wthe dot and `dash tower vlhorizont are substantially submerged in the solution.V A propeller 27 is rotatably supported within the lower portion fof "the-'chamber 1-0, -centrallyof its sides and adjacent 1he--bottom` wall 1-5, -a's is clearly indicated in Fig; 2. It is desired that this propeller have a dual function, 'so as toac't as a relatively low speed agitator whenthe chamber 10 is lled with -a washing or a rinsing solution; as indicated in Fig. 2, and as a relatively' high speed `drying Afan when the rinsing solution is drained from the chamber.` To this en'd the propeller 27 is driven through the medium of avariable speed mechanism by a motor 28 supported on the-base 18. Since the propeller should automatically havea 'relatively-low rate of speed when 'acting'as an agitation-and afrelatively high rate of speed when' actingg'a's a drying fan',V la fluid frictional `transmission-w29 .is interposed between the propeller 27 and its 'driving-motor 28.

vThe .friction transmission 29 is of a hydraulic type and includesa two-part housing 30 which is lled with a llightoil.v TheV in'ot'or shaft 31 projects through a packin'gzgland-SZYinto the hou'singwhe're Yi't has a horizontally disposed disk 33 suitably secured to its inner end. The disk 33 is provided on its face opposite to the-shaft wither-plurality o-f radially disposed flutes 34, as is more 'clearly shown' in Fig. 6. These-ilutes34 are'opposed by a second series of similar Vflutes `35,- radially vdisposed on the-adjacent-:faceof a second disk-36 to whose opposite face is suitably secured -thef lower end of the propeller'shaft- 37. *Thisy Vshaft -37 passes through a packing gland 38 in the upper section ofthe housing and 'carries-the-propeller' 27 at its upper end. The housing maybe' provided with one or more filling connections as indicated at 39 in Fi'g;

Y'Wtiifthi's "transmission mechanism, the propeller 27 will be rotated substantially at the rate of( speed of the motorgwhenthe chamber V is drained and only air surrounds.` the propeller. .Thepro'peller will thus act as va fan for drying the articles supported in the tray 223" When; however, #the-chamber 10 is lledwith'either washing or -rinsing solutions, to therequired level L as indicated in Fig. 2, the fan will encounter greater rre'- Y sistfance'to rotation. This rsistance-will-`-cause a greater differential 'between the-rotation of shafts '31 and 37 as will beA 'permitted by the rnobilev fluid which 'acts as thetdrictionalV driving medium between 'the twodisks 33rand 36. Y' Y Suitably disposed within the chamber-#10 are immersible resistance type heating coils 40 whose function isrto maintain fthe' washing-and Arinsingsolutions at proper temperatures-for most effective cleaningl action. The louvres24, together with ventsv 41 in the upper sidewalls of :the chamber provide forproper circulation of airV between thellining 20 down-over the heater" elements 40 and-through the vtray 22 whenA the propeller facts' as a drying fan. Y

. The-:washing solution is initially-'contained within' a movablegtank42 and the rinsing solution-is initially containedV in a similarkmovable tank-43. These Vtanks `are connected-by a hollow support by which the'y are operatively connected to one end of -the' chamber 10 so as to alternately transfer their contents through'the-nieans of valve .controlled ports,- later referred to, to and from the fhainberfl.' These' tanks 42 and-43 are in open connection ait their bottom ends with the opposite ends ofa hollow-irockable support comprising axially alined tubes orcondits 44v and 45 respectively,the adjacent ends-of whichextend into-'bosses 46 whichare unitary with a sleeve 47 and diametrically disposed relative thereto The -sleeve 4 7 is rotatably supported on a cylindrical casting 48. which projects horizon-tally Ifrom the side wall 13 of the chamber -10 Vadjacent the bottom Wall 15, and the casting'is suitablvfsecured to the casing 10 as by niea'ns-'of.a-;ila1lge v 49 'secured-to side wall 13 and an ex- `tension 50 disposed beneath andsuitably secured to the `t`xottomwallf'15.` The casting also includes Van enlarged cylindrical head 51 whichin effect provides a pivt'for thefsleeve. 47. A sleev retainer 52 is disposed opposite a ilange' l47"o`nthesleeve -and Vsuitable bearing'rings 53 arcsnppo'rted neountersunkfseats adjacent the Aopposite sid s i dmjeriphery of the castinglheadfl.

f1' a @sus v furtherprovide-dY with 'lippe-r and ally: disposed bores or 'passages 54 and "5'5,

which as indicated in Fig. 3 are disposed in a vertical 'di'aln't'ro'f 'the'castingl The inner ends of passages 54 and 55 communicate withthe interior of the chamber 10 through the respective openings 56 and 57 in the side wall 13. The outer end of passage 54 communicates with a pair of diverging ports 58 and 59, and the outer end of passage S5 communicates with a pair of diverging ports 60 and 61, the'port'siSS to 61 being disposed 90 apart about theca-sti-ng head v51. `The sleeve bosses 46 are `provided with 'ports 62 for alternate alinement with the d iametric-ally opposdports T58, 61 and 60, 59, as will be apparent upon inspection of Fig. 3. The ports 60, 61 are providedwi-th tilter'fs'c'r'e'en's 60'; 61V for a purpose later to appear.

The outer ends-of passages'tSi and 55 are provided with valve seats 54 and 55 which are adapted to be engaged by valves 63 and 64 whose stems 63 and 64' extend into a housing 65 at the outer end of casting 48 and have their ends pivotally connected at 66 and 67 to 'a rock lever=68. lThe rock lever is pivotally 'supported at its center 69 for rocking operation to alternately open and' close the valve ports'54' 'and 55 by a solenoid70 having a= Wire connection-71 to an automatic control unit, later referredto. l

The solution tanks 42 and 43 are indicated 'in their two operative positions -in Fig.v l, the washing position being-shown in v'solid lines, andthe rinsing position in dottedlin'es.` VvPower mechanism is provided for moving thel tanks 'to and-fromv these positions, the tanks being rotatedabout-t-he casting Yhead V51 through an angle of 90%. f Thi's'mechanism comprises a reversible screw jack type actuator including an externally threaded rod 72 having one end pivotall'y connected at 73 to one of the The solution tanks 42 and 43 are each provided with a cover 77 v'provided with a drain-connection 78 and a tillerrcon'nection '79. A tank cradle 8 0 is supported on theA base 18 for reception-of each of the tanks 42 'and 43 in theirlower positions, -and a limitl switch Y81 is housedV in each cradle @for controlling the .tank actuator arfid solenoid in a manner more'fully referred to herein# a ter.V 1

An electric clock-work'actuated multiple switch controlling device 82 is providedffor sequentially controlling the electric circuits forV theheating coils, propeller motor, solution tank actuating motor and valve solenoid, and while such device-is not shown in detail, its structure and operation` are lWell known. Stich devices are being vmanufacturedV by several companies-for time control of multiple circuit electrical-devices such-as herein disclosed, and an example of such a device as is indicated herein at 82 is shown and-described in Patent No. 2,155,271; Apr-i118, 1939.

The electric circuits controlling the'seqential operations :of the several elements above described under the timed `control of the device 82 are shown in Figs'. 7 to 12inclusive, whilethe corresponding timed movements of the washing and rinsing solutions is illustrated in Figs. 13 to 18 inclusive. -Y

In the operation of the` improved cleaning machine as above described the tank 42 is nlled with a washing solution, and theitank `43 is lled with a rinsing solution. The tanks are f initially disposed relative to the treating chamber 10 as-indicated in Fig. l, the tank 42 being vertically-disposed, and the tank 43hori`zor'1tally disposed and resting in its cradle S0 with its limit switch 81 depressed in off position. The cover 23 is raised and the watches or other articles desired to be cleaned are deposited in the traysl 22.

The machinefis now set into operation by yrneans Vof a switch controlling. the motor included in the multiple' switch: controlling device, which device in itsmoveme'tit operates 'a1 plurality of control switches which are indicatedin Figs. 7 to l-2, laterv referred to. At this stage of operation which is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig.- 8,- ythe" solenoid is inwcir'cuit whereby the valve 63fis opened as indicated ingFigs. 2 and 4, and the washingzs'olution ingtankaziows byvgravity into theA treat"-A nghanibr 10,` tlievalve 64 being closedat this tir'n. Asishindieatedin Fig. 8 thepropeller' 'rriot'o and heating oils are als''i cirif and this a washing of the watches' proceeds wherein the washing solution is agitated by the propeller 27 and thus brought in tointimate'movable Contact with the watches inthe trays 22. i

The washing operation automatically proceeds for a predetermined period as governed by the time controller 82; After a washing operation for a predetermined time interval the actuator down-circuit is closed, (Fig. 9), whereby the screw jack actuator moves the tanks 42 and 43 to the dotted positions in Fig. 1, with the washing solution tank 42 down on its supporting cradle 80 and the rinsing solution tank 43 in raised-vertical position.' At this stage, the solenoid 70 is off with the lower valve' 64 open and the upper valve 63 closed, whereby the washing solution drains from the treating chamber 10 back into the washing solution tank 42. The propeller motor and heating coils, however, remain in circuit at this stage.

The circuit `and switch arrangement before the rinsing operation begins is indicated in Fig. l0, wherein the actuator motor 16 is ott as are also the solenoid and heating coils, the propeller motor, however, remaining in circuit. `1n the rinsing operation as indicated in Fig. 11, the solenoid 70 is on whereby the valve 63 is opened and therinsing solution ows from tank 43 into the treating chamber 10. The propeller motor and heating coils are also on.

After the rinsing operation for a predetermined period of `time the drying operation begins as indicated in Fig. '12, wherein the actuator moves the solution tanks to their initial positions, as in Fig. 1. The solenoid is now oif, the rinsing solution draining back into the tank 43 and the motor 28 is on, the propeller functioning as a fan for drying the articles in the tray 22. At the end of the drying operation the 'propeller motor circuit is broken, thereby stopping the machine with the switches disposed asin Fig. 7. The filter screens 60 and 61 serve to lter the washing and rinsing solutions upon draining back into the tanks`42 and 43, whereby these solutions are capable of continued use.

The limit switches 81 function to break the actuator circuit when either tank enters a cradle. These limit switches also act to hold solenoid impulses until the ports in the sleeve 47 clear those in the casting head 51 thereby preventing the solutions from becoming mixed.

In Figs. 13 to 18 inclusive are diagrammatically illustrated the positions of the solution tanks 42, 43, relative to the treating chamber 10, 1n the several successive phases of a cleaning operation. The alternate open and closed positions of the ports 54 and S5 which control the ow of the solutions into and out of the treating chamu ber are also shown with the changes in position of the washing solution, indicated by heavy lines and the rinsing solution by light lines.

In Fig. 13 the solution tanks 42, 43 are shown in their initial positions in readiness for a washing operation, the

port 54 being closed, and this position corresponds to that of Fig. 7.

a According to Fig. 14 which corresponds to Fig. 8, the machine has been set into operation, the port 54 being opened and port 55 closed. As shown, the washing solution is drained from tank 42 into the treating chamber 10, while tank 43, containing the rinsing solution, rests in its lower horizontal position.

According to Fig. 15 which corresponds to Fig. 9, the washing has been completed and the washing solution tank 42 has been lowered while the rinsing solution tank 43 has been elevated, and port 54 is closed while port 55 is open to permit ilow of the Washing solution from the treating chamber 10 back into the washing solution tank According to Fig. 16, which corresponds with Fig. 10, port 54 has been opened and port 55 closed, and the rinsing solution now flows from tank 43 into the treating chamber 10.

Fig. 17 shows the completion of the rinsing operation, the tanks 42, 43 having been moved to their original positions of Fig. 13 and the port 5S opened to permit draini'ng of therin'sing solution back into its supporting tank- Fig. 18 which corresponds to Fig. 12 shows the in1t1al position of the solution tanks as well as the ports. The machine has now progressed to the drying position Where there is no solution in the treating chamber 10.

.,Itvwill be seen from Figs. 13 to 18 that the screw jack actuator for the solution tanks operates twice during each cleaning cycle; the rinsing solution tank being raised for The improved machine is wholly automatic when oncel set into operation and the watches or other articles"ir 1 the tray 22 are subjected to the successive washingyrins'- ing and drying operations, above described, Ywithout movement thereof or any effort on the part of an operator. After the cleaning cycle, the cover 23 is raised and the liner20 with tray 22 is removed from the chamberl 10. The cleaned articlesmay then be removed and the tra'y reloaded with other articles to be cleaned, and the opera-` tions repeated. d, l

While I have disclosed my invention in accordance with a single specific embodiment thereof, such is ltobe considered as illustrative only, and not restrictive, the scope of tha invention being defined in the subjoinedjclairn's.

I c aim: i I 1. In a watch cleaning machine, a stationary, treating chamber having inlet and outlet passages adjacent the bottom thereof, a washing solution `supporting tank a'r 1d a rinsing solution supporting tank, supporting means yfor said tanks providing for unison movement thereof 5to and from positions wherein the tanks are alternatelydisfposed above and below the treatingV chamber, conduit and port means providing communication between said tanks and the inlet passage when either tank isin uppermost position for gravity ilow of its solution into the treating chamber, conduit and port means providing communication between said tanks and the outlet passage when either tank is in lowermost position, for gravity flow of `the solution from the washing chamber into the lowermost tank, and valve means for simultaneouslyopening the inlet passage and closing the outlet passage and vice-versa, vhen said tanks are above and below the treating `cham- 2. The structure according to claim 1 together with a perforated watch-supporting tray removably supported in said treating chamber for stationary support andfsubmersion of watches in the washing and rinsing solutions in the chamber. y t f f. 3. The structure according to claim 1 together-with a motor operable fan disposed within the treatingcha'mber for drying the watches after drainage of the rinsingfsolution from the chamber, said chamber having atop cover provided with openings, and other openings in the side walls of the chamber whereby an air draft is Within the chamber upon operation of `said fan.

4. The structure according to claim 1 together with motor operated means for moving said tanks into-and from said positions, a solenoid for controlling ,said valve means, and an electric clockwork, controlling device for operating said motor operated means and said solenoid in a predetermined sequence.

5. In a watch cleaning machine, avstationary treating chamber, a cylindrical member supported in horizontal position adjacent the bottom of thechamber, vertically disposed horizontal inlet and outlet passages in the member and communicating with the chamber adjacent its bottom wall, a pair of ports extending radially of the cylindrical member and communicating with the inlet passage, a second pair of ports extending radially ofthe cylindrical member and communicating withfthe outlet passage, said ports all being in right angular relation and each one of said first ports being alined with one of said second ports in diametrical relation to the cylindrical member, said ports all opening through the outer wall of the cylindrical member, a sleeve rotatably supported on the cylindrical member and beingprovided with ,a pair of diametrically disposed bosses each provided with a port for alinement with one of said first por-ts in either one of two positions of the sleeve apart, a tube hav-A` ing its inner end secured in each of said, bosses and communicating with the port therein, a washing solution supporting tank carried by the outer end of one tube and in communication through its bottom therewith, a rinsing solution tank carried by the outer end of the other tube and communicating through its bottom therewithsaid tanks being normally disposed with the washing solution tank being disposed above the treating chamber and provided iil n outre p es fitr ugh q pf sidgnrsrpbnssaid f cette:l oeihgjr'et able to rotafte the Vtanks threughn 'gle" f" 9 0f with1t11'e`jrirf1`s'iri solutim tank above the rrang'renamper andthe .wanjngs'ol'ution tank below nieehaber, ndvive'fneas' ferai eatery openingand closing the outletpassages Vfor gravity flow of `s`o th'e chamber, gravitynow f the he` cha'rnb `cr into theY correspondt s" g 'rotation into "the y flow of 'the' rinsing solution from the'cori s'pndi'ngia'nk.. ep according to Yclaim 5 wherein said re gatf cyl'indrxcalform with theiraXes at 'gi'g'lti les, reinfrneith'er rotated' position of th'eftnks` the' uppermost one is vertically disposed and one horizontally disposed tr dure-according.toclaimlS together with a d 4 ajrnber adjacent its bota otor. dis'po ,s' e`t i` ene'alt'h the chamber and operatively connected with the fan.'

8; ln awatchceaning machine, a stationary treating 11,1r` s oltion supporting tank and a rinsio` supp ing1ta`nk, means rotatably supporting ks or alternate' movement to positions above and w amber, .conduit and port means" establishing inum ation-betweenthetanks and passages fortirne `al a''d vs'equential gravity flow of washing solution thefcorresp'onding tank into the chamber in one "ofthe anks', gravity flow ofthe washing solution into Vthelcorres'ponding tank in another s`,igravity, ovv of the' rinsing solution ving tank into thev chamber in said erothe'1" `po`s`it ri of th'e'tanks, and gravityow of ,the solution from the cham-ber in'to'the corresponding eiirstposition of the tanks, actuator means for T9151. s`A` freei'is "op'erative to alternately open andv close said passages for ow of the solutions Yinto and from said chamett 1 hstriicture according to c laim 8 together with a `p`p`ort1 g e adjacent the bottom wall thereof.

hegsfrgfur according tg 4claim s. wherein said atorjforrotating saidtanksfto and from Heating' c ,oilinv said chamber adjacent the bottom walltereo a: combined solutionagitating and tly'ng"propellerdisposed; ithirr said chamber adjacent thc bott orr1 I wall lthereof and clockwork operated multiple 11 means for, operating Ysaid solenoid, actuator means,

'coil' and" propeller :in predetermined time inter- Y. ff Iva .Y.lt'deilstishiner aslt'ationary Washing clian "er having inlet and outlet passages adjacent its bottom wall, a washiug,s olut io n supporting tank, and a ciiiisirgi solution pp ortihgftank,rneans rotatably sup-- forialternate positions thereof above e amber;r conduit connections between ages 'w1-ien in said positions, valve Yr 1 sat idV passages and conduit con# a motor'operated reversible actuator for moving to andV from said positions, a circuit including ctua'tor',a" solenoid' for operating said valve means, 'trif elcctich'eatng' coil insaid chamber, a motor Vopi dp 'peller-in said Chanb'er,V and anelectric clockoper ingv said a'etuator, solenoid, heating coil and pro pelle Virl predete'rrninedl time interval secluence, 12,'1151 structure according to claim 11 wherein al hyk"contr'o`l1e"d mltiple's'witch controlling device for F inletandoutletpassges adjacentits botcsh-tray removably vsupported in said hamberfa'nd aihea'ting coil disposed within the chamber dr lic transmission is operatively disposed betweenthe propeller and its motor, said transmission Vcomprising a 'r``o`trfdriventinted-disk disposed in an oil containing ltisi'ng; and asecond'u'ted disk opposed to the first disk andicbnnectdf-to the propeller, whereby the disks are bl'bf diierental movement withthe propeller movnl Qwspeedwhen vsubmerg'gedin asolution and at a relatively high speedwhen the chambei' is ned of solution in which: instance the pro; ifettertrfnetins as a'- drying fan,

cduitco d'jsu'p erging means .for alin ment'with'condit'scorri unic'ating'lwth said tanks .when in said positins and vfor' disalnenent therewith-when being rotated from. one Yposition:tothe other, andli'mit switches oprable'by 'the tank'in their lowermost positions forV breaking` the actuator circuit'and for holdingthe's'olenoid impulses until the conduits are disalinedwith the ports.

y 14. In a' Watch cleaning machine, a' stationary' wash ing chamber having a bottom wall and an'open top and having inlet and outlet passages communicating therewith adjacent the bottom wall', movable tank`means foi alternately loading the chamber with washing' solutions and draining same therefrom through rsaid passages, a horizontally disposed propeller Within said chamber adjacent the bottom wall, a propellerl actuating motor disposed beneath the chamber, anda hydraulic transmission beneathi the chamber and operatively connected withthe motor and the propeller. i

15.V The structure according to claimA 14 together Vwith a heating coil in said chamber between the bottom Wall thereof` and said propeller, a watchI 'supporting mesh t'ray 'removably supported in said chamber abovesaid vpropeller', and a swingableV cover normally closing' theope'n top of the chamber 1 6, In a watch cleaning machine, a stationary treating chamber vhaving aj bottom andside' walls', a` cylindrical member `projectingtfromv one sidewall adjacent the bottom wall and having an' inlet' and 'outlet passagev communicating with 'thechamben' said passages being horizontally disposed with lthe inlet passage above the outlet passage, a pair of upwardly diverging ports inthe member communicating with the inlet passage and opening through theoutertwall ofthe cylindrical'mcmber, a pair of downwardly dit/erging portscommunicating with the outlet passage and opening through the outer wall'of the member, a tubular sleeve rotatably supported on the cylindrical member and having aY pair of ports therein, said sleeve being rotatable through an angular range for alinement of one port therein withl one of the upwardly divergingports at one extrerrie of rotation thereof while the other port therein is alined with one lof the downwardly diverg'ing ports, the respective sleeveVv ports alining with the other of the downwardly diverging and upwardly vdiverging ports in the othe'riextrerne'of r'otation of the sleeve, a pair of tubular members supported at adjacent ends thereof by said sleeve and communicating withl the ports therein, a washing solution supporting tank carried by the other end ofone of the tubular members rand in communication therewith, and a rinsing solution supporting tank carried by the other end of the;other tubular member in communication therewith.

17. The structure according to claim -16 wherein said bottom wall inclines downwardly toward said outlet passage, and valve means in said cylindrical member op'- erative for alternately opening and closing communication between said passages and said upwardly and downwardly diverging ports.

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